Dental forceps.



R. L. ANDERSON.

DENTAL PORGEPS.

APPLICATION FILED 001212. 1911.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

RUFUS L. ANDERSON, 0F PLANT CITY, FLORIDA.

DENTAL FORCEPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 12, 1911.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

Serial No. 654,262.

To ZZZ 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, RUFUs L. ANDERSON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Plant City, in the county ofHillsboro and State of Florida, have invented new and usefulimprovements in Dental Forceps, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to dental forceps, and the primary object of thesame is to provide devices of this class with removable andinterchangeable beaks as well as reversible and interchangeable handlesand particular means of a conveniently operable character to secure theparts together whereby the beaks may be easily and quickly removed fromthe handles for` the purpose of cleansing or for the purpose ofsubstituting beaks of a different shape so that a large number ofvarious kinds or styles of forceps may be produced by the use of acomparatively small number of fundamental parts.

It is proposed to make the forceps in sets and of different dimensionsfor use in adult and juvenile operations and to reduce the complement offorceps as ordinarily constructed to compact form and without requiringthe usual large number of dental instruments of this class that mustnecessarily be employed to meet dental contingencies, but avoidingdepletion or curtailment of the operating equipment. The improveddentalv forceps is also as near perfect in its aseptic characteristicsas it is possible to attain, and the parts thereof may be readilyseparated and sterilized.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimedin preferred form.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pair of forcepsembodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofone of the beaks with its fulcrum member and shank and a portion of oneof the handles shown in section and particu larly illustrating thelocking means for the handle. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view throughthe fulcrum members of the beaks, the said members being shownseparated. Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal section of the socketextremity of one of the handles. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation, partiallyin section, of a portion of one of the handles and one of the beaksshowing a changed association of the handle and beak. Fig. 6 is anenlarged cross-sectional view taken in the plane of the line 6 6, Fig.2. Fig. 7 illustrates detail views of the handle locking means.

The numerals 5 and 6 designate the handles, and 7 and 8 the beaks, thelatter respectively having socket members 9 and l0 and Shanks 11. Thebeaks 7 and 8 may be of any contour adapted for a specific purpose oroperation and as hereinbefore indicated it is proposed to use aplurality of beaks with each set of instruments or with a certaincomplement of handles, but in all instances the sockets or fulcrummembers 9 and 10 of the beaks as well as the shanks 11 and the engagingextremities of the handles 5 and 6 relatively to the said Shanks will bethe same in their structural essentials in accordance with the featuresof the invention. The socket 9 of the beak 8, for instance, is formedwith a circularl seat 12 opening through one side thereof, andprojecting into the said seat at diametrically opposite points are theterminals of pins 13 which are held within the said fulcrum member 9, asclearly shown by Fig. 3. The fulcrum member 10 of the beak 7 is formedwith a central stud or projection 14 of the same form as the seat 12 tosnugly fit in the latter, the seat having exactly the same depth as thelength of the stud or projection 14 so that the two contiguous faces ofthe fulcrum members 9 and bers are assembled in operative relation. Thestud or projection 14; near its free end is formed with acircumferential groove 15 with opposite intersecting grooves 16extending' through the outer extremity of the stud to permit the ends ofthe pins 13 to pass into the groove 15 in assembling the two fulcrummembers, the proper position of the two handles and beaks of the forcepsto at` tain thc assemblage of the two fulcrum members being when the twohandles or beaks are open to their maximum extent so that in theordinary opening and closing movements of the beaks and handles acci@dental separation of the beaks will be prevented.

ln practice forceps are never opened to their maximum extent except incleaning operations, and therefore the inwardly projecting ends of thepins 13 will have free movement in the portions of the groove 15 atpoints away from or out of alinement with the counter-inlet grooves 16.As soon, however, as the handles and beaks are fully 10 will closelyengage when the said mem-.

the stem with the body of the shank. The

body of the shank at the point of intersection or juncture thereof wit-hthe stem 17 and and preferably at the inner part or adjacent to theinner edge of the said body is formed with a forwardly projecting recess19. Each handle has its forward extremity constructed with alongitudinal socket 2O of a depth equal to the length of each stem 17,and projecting beyond the forward end of each handle is a lip or lug 21to enter the recess 19 to prevent the handle from turning on the stemwhen the two parts are assembled. Each handle and stem is also providedwith an interacting locking means to prevent longitudinal displacementof the handle on the stem when it is desired that they shall remain inpositive association. This locking means consists of a pin 22 having aninner semicircular groove 23 near the inner terminal thereof, anintermediate segmental recess 24, and an outer angularly disposedoperating arm or handle 25 terminating in an enlarged thumb-piece orgrip 26. The groove 23 presents opposite abutting shoulders 27 and isengaged by a screw 28, see F ig. 6, which Voperates to hold the pin 22in applied position and also limits the movement of the said pin inopposite maximum directions or limits the said pin to a half-turn in itsextreme movements in opposite directions. Each stem 17 is formed with asemicircular groove 29 extending across the same to receive a portion ofthe pin 22 when the latter is turned to throw the recess 24C out ofengagement or coincidence with the said stem. At the point where the pin22 is inserted, the handle extremity is enlarged or slightly swelled, asat 30, and formed with a semicircular seat or groove 31, the said grooveor seat 31 and the groove 29 being simultaneously formed while the stem17 and socket extremity of the handle are assembled by drilling the saidparts with a suitable tool.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the arm 25 o-f each pin 22is thrown forwardly in longitudinal alinement with relation to thesocket extremity of the handle with which it engages, the correspondingpin 22 will be so turned that a solid portion thereof will engage thegroove 29 ofthe stem 17 and lock the handle against longitudinalmovement. By turning the arm 27 rearwardly its full predeterminedextent, the

recess 24 of the pin 22 will be brought around in coincidence with thegroove 29 of the stem and clear the latter and permit the handle tobewithdrawn. When the arms 25 are turned forward in locking position thethumb-pieces or grips will form a convenient means for bracing the thumbof the operator in applying the necessary pushing force on the forcepsin using the latter and to obtain a firm grip on the tooth. The handles5 and 6 may also be shaped at their gripping extremities as shown, orany other suitable contour may be given thesame similar to handlesordinarily adopted in different constructions of forceps. It will alsobe understood that the handles of eachset of instruments embodying thefeatures of the invention may differ in contour and likewise the beakswill be made in different forms and vary in structuralv details as maybe desired.

Either one or both handles and beaks may be changed or reversed or thetwo handles may be changed in position relatively to a single set ofbeaks for upper and lower and right and left usage and correspondinglychange the direction of extent of the beaks without requiring aseparation of the fulcrum members of the beaks. With a comparativelysmall number of fundamental parts, or handles and beaks, various formsof forceps may be produced with convenience to the operator andmaterially less cost in the necessary equipment of forceps.

One of the most important features of the improved structure is that thejoints of all the parts are close and will preclude the accumulation ofdirt therein as well as secre v tions from Yteeth treated or operatedupon and the lodgment of disease germs. Parts of the forceps can bereadily separated and sterilized, and by this means a thoroughly asepticinstrument is provided. As will be understood, all the parts of theimproved forceps will also be made of high grade steel or other metalsuitable for the purpose and in some instances may be composed of metalsvarying in degrees of hardness.

lhat is claimed is:

1. A dental forceps comprising beaks having rearwardly projecting stemsand intermediate fulcrum means, handles having sockets at their forwardextremities to de-V tachably engage the stems, locking meanstransversely disposed in the sockets to engage the stems, and meansinclosed within the sockets for preventing the lateral with. drawal ofthe locking means from the sockets.

2. A dental forceps comprising coperating beaks having rearwardlyprojecting stems and recesses adjacent to said stems, handles havingsockets at their forward extremities to detachably engage the stems andalso provided with lips to lit in the reprojecting portions which form athumb brace close to the ulcrum means to receive a pressure exerted in aforward direction.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set 15 l my hand in presence of twosubscribing witeesses and prevent turning of the handles, i and lockingmeans for the handles carried by the sockets of the latter to engage thestems i to prevent longitudinal movement of the handles on the stems.

3. A dental forceps comprising coperatnesses. ino' beaks havingrearwardly projecting l T Steins7 handles having fulcrum means and yRUFUS L' ANDERSON sockets to detachably receive the stems, andTitnessesr locking means carried by the sockets to en- CHAS. S. HYER,gage the stems and provided with exterior F. B. KEEFER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner o1' Patents, Washington, D. C.

